Treatments for Epilepsy

If seizures from epilepsy are putting your life on hold, look no further than Sentara. People from all over southeastern Virginia and surrounding communities turn to us because we offer a broad range of treatments and the best quality of care. As a designated Level 3 Epilepsy Center you can trust that we deliver the care that's just right for you.

Contact Us

For more information about the Sentara Epilepsy Center or to make an appointment, call us at 877-310-8713.

Epilepsy Treatment at Sentara: Why Choose Us?

When it comes to epilepsy, each person's care journey is unique. Sentara’s epilepsy experts come together to pinpoint the kinds of seizures you're having and where they start in your brain. We then recommend and tailor treatments to meet your individual needs. If previous treatments have not been successful, we offer new options and help you find the care you need.

Highlights of our program include:

Expertise: You receive care from epileptologists, who are neurologists with additional training (fellowships) in treating epilepsy. Our experience in treating many forms of epilepsy means we are often able to make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and medical history, without further testing. The result? You start treatment as quickly as possible. Meet our epilepsy experts.

Access to a broad range of seizure medications: Many people gain control of seizures using one or more medications. At Sentara, you have access to options that are not widely available. We also offer access to new medications through clinical trials.

Exceptional evaluation capabilities: If medications are not helping you achieve control of the seizures, we perform a detailed evaluation. We are the only program in southeastern Virginia using around-the-clock inpatient monitoring to get to the source of complex seizures. The information this monitoring provides helps us know when surgery is necessary and which surgery is the best fit for your needs. Find out more about epilepsy evaluation.

Treating Epilepsy with Seizure Medications

Seizure medications can lower your risk of having future seizures. We specialize in selecting the medications that are best for your unique needs. We help you avoid complications by selecting medications that have been demonstrated to be safe and effective in people in your age group. Our expert team tailors your dosage to help you gain control of seizures while minimizing unpleasant side effects.

A number of factors go into personalizing medications, including your:

Diagnosis: The treatment that’s most effective for you depends on the type of seizures you’re experiencing, and where they start in your brain. Find out more about epilepsy and seizures.

Gender: If you are a woman and wish to become pregnant, we select medications that are safe for your unborn child. If you do not wish to become pregnant, we may recommend a new method of birth control since seizure medications can make birth control pills less effective.

Overall health: If you are taking treatments for other medical conditions, such as heart problems, we select seizure medications that do not interfere with them.

Additional Epilepsy Treatments We Offer

Everyone experiences epilepsy differently. If medications are not enough to control the seizures you’re experiencing, you are not out of options.

Your care may include:

Diet therapy: We may recommend diets high in certain types of fats and low in carbohydrates, such as the low glycemic diet or modified Atkins.

Treatments to address seizure triggers: Problems such as stress and difficulty sleeping can sometimes lead to (trigger) a seizure. Addressing triggers through relaxation techniques and other therapies may lower your risk for future seizures.

Surgery: In cases where surgery is necessary, our expert neurosurgeons are on hand. We use imaging technology and the latest surgical equipment to perform your procedure with a high degree of precision. These technologies lead to safer, more effective care. Find out more about neurosurgery.

Support: We help you take care of common problems people with epilepsy may face. If depression or anxiety is affecting your daily life, we may refer you to a psychologist. If you need help with practical matters such as transportation to and from appointments, we refer you to a Sentara social worker.